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Hope someone can help out with a cycling quesiton.

Here's my plan. If I have a brand new tank, with brand new gravel, but connect up a cannister filter that has been running on an established tank for around 6 months, as well as transfer driftwood & anubia from that same established tank - will the new tank be cycled?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers
TW

It seems to me that the new water would still have to go through the cycling process. Now, with all that "experienced" amterial in there my guess is that you would definitely shorten the cycle time for the tank. It probably depends upon the size of the tank as well... How much water you're going to be cycling...

If you use the filter the decor as you stated, and a little gravel from the old tank, and at least 30% of the water put into it is established tankwater there is a very good chance the tank will be instantly suitable for fish.

Ive done it may times when setting up new tanks, and if you can set the temperature to be the same as the old tank,and stock it lightly to begin with,the filter is never offline for more than 30 minutes, and all the top-up water is properly conditioned, there is a very good chance you'll never even get a temporary ammonia spike.

Basically the less conditions fluctuate for the bacteria, and as long as there is food present for them, the greater the chances of lessening the damage done to the bacterial colony are. Its perfectly possible to have an instant cycled tank using media and material from an established tank, but its a good idea to keep monitoring the water quality once its set up, just in case.

Thanks ScottF & LHG

LHG, that's exactly what I'm doing. I will transfer all the water from the 2ft directly into the new 3ft via a gravel vac with a hose long enough to reach both tanks. Extra water will be needed. Lots of driftwood & plants will transfer across & a little of the substrate too. Just before the water transfer starts, I will have the cannister moved across ready & waiting (already primed). As soon as there is enough water in the 3ft tank to cover the uptake pipe sufficiently, the filter will be turned on.

I don't see there really being time for the good bacteria to die in the filter, so I hope I will not hit any spikes.

Naturally, I will do all the water tests. I hoped I can immediately put my apistogramma in there (as his previous home - the 2footer) will shut down in this process. So this plan sounds OK?

Cheers
TW

I have done this several times over the years and never a problem providing you save as much water, subsrtrate as possible and keep the filter going in the saved water.
I now use Sera Nitrivic at every water change to keep the good bacteria in its origional state.

It can be bought on the WWW in Aust from
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Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Keith

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Robyn,

It sounds perfect. I did what you are planning to do on three occasions. Two were planned and one was not planned, think of it as disaster relief.

The first time, I set-up a 125G with Eco-complete, plants and tap water. Added an "experienced" Eheim and an AquaClear (AC) then stocked with a half dozen adult discus, a few rams and a pandemonium of cories with a bristlenose or two. Nitrates were measurable in under a week and never a whiff of ammonia or nitrites.

Second time, the Eheim head gasket let loose, soaked the office floor and required an immediate evacuation of the tank. Transferred the above residents (population had grown by 4 adult discus) to a 75 gallon bare bottom tank. No set-up, just tap water with hardscape from the 125 and plants from that tank to float in the water. Added only the AC. Nitrates were measurable in under a week and never a whiff of ammonia or nitrites.

Finally the return to the 125, now morphed into a discus only glass box with driftwood. Tap water plus hardscape from the 75, added the Eheim and the discus. Nitrates were measurable in under a week and never a whiff of ammonia or nitrites.

During the above gymnastics, I kept a log of daily readings and never lost a fish. Thank God that they were hardy discus, rams and bristlenose!



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I, too have done it several times with great success. The bacteria lives on the gravel, decorations etc so the more of that you can add the better off you'll be. Adding existing tank water is also important because it will not add bacteria but what the bacteria needs to live, ammonia and nitrite. Transferring the water and filter right away from the old tank to new will help keep the bacteria alive as it only lives a very short time when removed from it's original home. There is bacteria in the filter media, yes, but it is almost negligible compared to what's in the gravel. The new tank will not be fully cycled but a very strong head start and will be a hospitable environment for your fish.

Good luck TW i hope everything goes smoothly for you

TW, you are spot on the money with your ideas. I recently did a similar thing with my tanks. I only moved the Filter Material over and a piece of driftwood from another tank and after a week i checked the params and they are perfect. So good luck with your move

Thanks for your input as always, Shane
http://thetanklog.blogspot.com/ - [ Thanks to ScottF ]
http://www.natureaquariumclubofutah.com/main.html

Thanks everyone.

Seems this should work. The hard part is that I need my cabinet's reinforced first - I can't find anyone to do the job

Well, I've found one person - but he's going on 4 weeks holidays in August & is not taking on new work till he returns.

I'll keep looking.

Cheers
TW

Robyn, I sympathise that will seem like an eternity Hope you can find someone else to do it in quicker time .

Garry